Obama Gives Russian President Cold Shoulder

President Obama is turning a cold shoulder to Vladimir Putin, cutting off plans to meet with the Russian president next month in the midst of tensions over the decision to grant NSA leaker Edward Snowden temporary asylum.

Jay Carney, the White House Press Secretary said in a written statement that after a “careful review,” the administration came to the conclusion that “there is not enough recent progress in our bilateral agenda with Russia to hold a U.S.-Russia Summit in early September.”

Carney pointed out “achievements” with Russia on an arms-reduction treaty, along with cooperation on Afghanistan, Iran and North Korea.

Carney said, but given the lack of progress on issues such as missile defense and arms control, trade and commercial relations, global security issues, and human rights and civil society in the last twelve months, they have informed the Russian Government that they believe it would be more constructive to postpone the summit until they have more results from their shared agenda. Carney added that Russia’s disappointing decision to grant Edward Snowden temporary asylum was also a factor that they considered in assessing the current state of their bilateral relationship.

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